Change is inevitable. Whether we like it, or not, it's going to happen. As much as I wish that things (life) could remain the same, that's just not reality. Not only is that not reality, it's also not healthy. Think about it, as cute as a baby is (I know, we've had four of them and ALL of them have been the most beautiful creations in all the world), the precious time that we have with our children, watching them grow, all of the "firsts", as great and wonderful as that is, I don't think that any of us would really want our children to stay forever a baby, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, and so on. In reality Sharon and I are looking forward to the day when our children marry and have children. We're looking forward to the day that we can spoil the grandkids and send them home. All of that having been said (or typed), there is yet still a part of me that wants some things to stay the same.
One of the things that I do as a missionary here in Brazil is teach churches how to do Celebrate Recovery (see the link on this page). When invited to train one of these churches, one of the key phases that I teach is this, "We live by two rules of thumbs; (1) there is a God, and (2) I am not Him." Over this past week, several things have happened that if I had the power to change, I would have. But, guess what? There is a God and Jeff isn't Him (and aren't we ALL grateful for that)! I trust God completely! That being said, I also trust Him that He knows what He's doing, that He's still on the throne and still in control. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul writes; "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ". (NASB) I trust God that even when things don't go as I think that they ought to go, He still knows what's best.
I remember when I was first in recovery. I was very ignorant and in denial of the severity of my chemical dependency. Although I admitted that I had had a problem with alcohol and drugs, in my denial I was convinced that I was not like "those" people. I was working at a psychiatric hospital and a co-worker who had lost my copy of the "Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book" had bought me a new one. On the inside cover she encouraged me to read page 449. That page has helped a lot over the years, especially when I find myself not content with my reality and I find myself complaining to God for the way He's letting life happen. The page reads like this:
"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation – some fact of my life – unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."
Alcoholics Anonymous 3rd. Ed., 1976, Alcoholic Anonymous World Services, Inc., (page 449)
I totally recognize that the AA Big Book is not the Bible, not even close! I also recognize that there are a lot of people who are in our circle of friends and contacts that suffer from the "if only this" or "if only that", or the "I should have . . .", "I would have . . .", or the "I could have . . ." of life. My prayer for me and for all of us is that when we experience life, both in it's good and it's bad, that we accept it for what it is, a precious gift from God. One that is neither earned or deserved, but daily given to us as a present of God's grace.
1 comment:
Great post, Jeff. It isn't about changing our circumstances but about allowing circumstances to change and strengthen our character.
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